Argentina media react to Lisandro Martínez’s performance in Copa America opener

Manchester United centre-back started for Argentina during their 2-0 Copa America win against Canada on Thursday evening.

The fixture saw Argentina commence their defence of the Copa America trophy. Lionel Scaloni’s men won resoundingly, defeating Canada 2-0 in their opening group game.

Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martínez started the fixture and played a full 90 minutes, while Alejandro Garnacho was an unused substitute.

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Martínez has suffered from some horrible injuries over the last 15 months, having to undergo two surgeries and facing four separate spells on the sidelines. He played just 14 fixtures last season for United across all competitions.

However, the last of those 14 was undoubtedly the best, with the Argentina star playing 70 minutes during a brilliant 2-1 FA Cup final win over Manchester City.

Martínez’s return has been just in time for the 2024 Copa America tournament. He has become an integral part of the Argentina squad, starting alongside Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Romero.

Here is how the Argentine media reacted to Martínez’s performance against Canada.

TYC Sports rated his performance as a 7/10. “7 Category in each outing, without too many drawbacks in the game,” they wrote. “He almost committed a penalty, but the VAR could not [give] the play reviewed because the infraction was outside the area.”

BolaVIP rated Martínez at a 6/10, explaining: “Good with the ball at his feet, giving Argentina a clear exit. However, he had some complications with cross-Canada shipping.”

La Nacion handed Martínez his lowest rating at just 5/10, stating that he was both good and bad: “The left-hander won the start in this match over an experienced player like Otamendi. Perhaps Scaloni sought more speed of defensive and offensive advance and to relocate in the recoil.

“The left-hander usually gives him more offensive variables: from a vertical pass of his he sought to break the achique of the last line of Canada and left Julián Alvarez one-on-one, but the goalkeeper Crepeau saved the play.”

“Licha, like Romero, did not have as much participation in the face of the few arrivals from Canada through the centre of the area,” wrote La Selección Argentina, scoring him 6/10.

La Pagina Millonaria, rating Martinez as a 7/10 in the game, said: “He held the team next to Cuti in each rival attack and covered as much as he could the potholes left by the midfield. Precise with the ball at the start, both long and short, although somewhat overstated in the second half.”

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